Galaxy Tab 10.1 will cost $729 outright
Samsung revealed this morning that it would launch the new 10.1-inch version of its Galaxy Tab exclusively through Vodafone in mid-April, undercutting the price of its smaller 7-inch model significantly by introducing it at the price of $729 outright.
(Credit: Samsung)
When Samsung's first, smaller 7-inch Galaxy Tab launched in Australia in the closing months of 2010, some saw its $999 price as being too high given that Apple's larger iPad could be bought for several hundred dollars less — $799 for the 16GB 3G model. The new pricing on the 10.1-inch model will bring the device more in line with prices on Apple's iPad 2, which has also been reduced in cost compared to the first iPad and will go on sale this Friday.
Samsung's 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab will go on sale exclusively through Vodafone in mid-April, the company said today, although Gizmodo has reported that the device will not be locked to any particular carrier. Customers can buy it outright for $729 and receive 6GB of included data, which will expire after three months, or pay an upfront payment of $259 plus $39 per month over 12 months and receive 1.5GB of data per month.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is one of the first devices to be released running version 3.0 of the Android platform, which has been re-designed for the tablet form factor in competition with the device currently dominating the local and global tablet markets — Apple's iPad.
The Tab 10.1 will also feature a dual-core 1GHz CPU, providing grunt for the 10.1-inch screen that runs at a resolution of 1280x800 (WXGA). At 599g the device will be lighter than Apple's equivalent 3G iPad, and it supports access to Australia's major mobile networks at HSPA+ speeds.
"We are excited to partner with Vodafone to launch this limited edition tablet as part of our expanding range of tablet devices," said Tyler McGee, vice president of Samsung Electronics Australia telecommunications. "Samsung continually strives to deliver leading, first to market technologies and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v is no exception."
Ross Parker, general manager of devices and pricing at Vodafone said, "Vodafone is thrilled to offer our customers the first to market Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v, operating on the highly anticipated Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' platform. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v is an exclusive limited edition enabling our customers to experience first the full mobile entertainment experience on the ultimate Android 3.0 platform."